The Crew overcame the altitude, a history of failure, a 48-minute Colorado power play and the absence of its Olympians to secure a rare road victory over the Rapids. Despite lackluster performances by Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Frankie Hejduk and final stats that bordered on the bizarre, this was a defining victory for the Crew. Ugly as can be, but three points nonetheless. Such is often the case with Sigi Schmid at the wheel -- more Dale Earnhardt than Michael Schumacher. A post-All-Star surprise in suburban Denver helped the veteran coach keep his club on the road to Cup contention.

Just like they drew it up

The Crew struggled to maintain possession and create attacks in its new 3-5-2 formation but took an early 1-0 lead when Stefani Miglioranzi assisted Steven Lenhart on a countering attack. Lenhart was ejected just before halftime for an elbow to the jaw of Facundo Erpen, but goalkeeper William Hesmer and the Crew held off the Rapids long enough to strike again on the counter. This time, halftime sub Brad Evans flicked on a ball to late sub Jason Garey, who slid through and beat Bouna Coundoul to the top netting in the 75th minute. Garey, who had played a total of 12 minutes before Sunday, scored in a league game for the first time since Sept. 22.

Shooting blanks

Hesmer was spectacular, but the Rapids did their part to help him post his fifth shutout. Colorado forward Conor Casey displayed an oafish touch. Twice he knocked headers wide of the net. He also blasted a volley directly at Hesmer. The Rapids took 23 shots, seven on goal.

It wasn't pretty

It seems like Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo has been on the hot seat since he was hired in 2005, but he is in the final year of his contract, so he'll likely stick around through the end of the season. An announced crowd of 10,647, many of them masquerading as empty seats, saw the latest loss, which included a botched handling of an indirect free kick in the Crew penalty area and dropped the Rapids to 6-9-3.

This does not compute

23 shots taken by Colorado

5 shots taken by Columbus

17 corner kicks taken by Colorado

0 corner kicks taken by Columbus

1-8-3 The Crew's record in Mile High Stadium and Invesco Field

1-0-1 The Crew's record in Dick's Sporting Goods Park

Karma

"There are games we've played where we've felt we played better and only got a tie or got zero when we should have got three points," Schmid said. "This was a game where we took three points, and maybe we shouldn't have had them."

Shake it off

Back from a severe ankle injury that kept him out of the past five games, Eddie Gaven played his most physical minutes of the season. He went 90 minutes-plus and said yesterday that he was feeling fine. Evans, who assisted on Garey's goal by winning a flick-on, said he should be able to play against Houston. Evans injured an ankle and was subbed out in second-half stoppage time.

"I felt more involved in this game than any other. I hadn't been aggressive enough. This week, Sigi asked me to take more control in there and I didn't have a problem doing it." -- Hesmer, who was often off his line to roam the box and direct the defense.